sahra v. nguyen 🎥✨📷⚡️💎🍜@oneouncegold

Images by oneouncegold

I don’t ever talk about sports but this NFL ban on kneeling during the National Anthem is just WRONG, it’s a violation of America’s constitution, and another form of institutionalized racism to criminalize black people who are exercising their right to freedom of expression and non-violent protest. When I was in high school, I felt some type of way about reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning with a hand over the heart, so I stood in silent protest with my hands behind my back — this is no different. Will they enact a ban in public schools too? America thrives on the diverse thinking of all people to make it better, more inclusive, and accountable to its own values of “equal opportunity for all.” If people feel betrayed by the system, they have a right to hold it accountable. We can’t (blindly) serve a system that doesn’t serve us. The silver lining in all of this is that our voices are becoming so strong that people in positions of power like the NFL feel such a desperate need to assert their “control” that they passed this ban. But this ban is just more fuel for our fire. I know the madness is overwhelming, but let’s not be passive to the “norm” the NFL + 45 are trying so hard to perpetuate. #nofreedomleague#cantstopwontstop#imwithkaepernick#imwithkap

Thank you to @thecreativeoutsiders for inviting me to join their podcast, a platform dedicated to women storytellers and helping women live their filmmaking dreams. 🎥✨ .
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On this episode we chat about: .
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👀 What does my day look like as a filmmaker, creative hustler, and restaurant co-owner? .
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👀 Why it’s important to me to cover underrepresented voices in media.
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👀 How I made my documentary “Deported.” .
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👀 How I got to create films for NBC News.
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👀 The business side of filmmaking.
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👀 Social justice, activism, + storytelling.
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Listen by visiting the link in @thecreativeoutsiders bio. 👊
#storyteller#documentaries#womeninfilm#indiefilmmaker#womendirectors#podcasting#socialjustice#APAHM

Had a great time speaking at Verizon HQ on the theme of being BOLD, and how diving into cultural heritage + racial identity can support the path to one’s success, leadership, and impact. In addition, the world is changing, and diversity is an ever increasing need for sustainability. Special thanks to Loan Tran + Alex Woo for being my incredible hosts, and for inspiring me with their commitment to empowering our communities within and helping big companies like Verizon understand + support diversity initiatives. As more Asian Americans and people of color with a win-win mindset enter influential positions of decision making, we can shift culture to be more inclusive, more representative of the world, and more prosperous across the spectrum. 👊👊👊 Now, where should I speak next? Or more importantly, what color suit should I buy next? 😜 #powersuit

Gearing up for my first super corporate gig with @verizon and I got my pantsuit ready 😜!! My personal journey has been super entrepreneurial, but tomorrow I’ll be pushing the framework of how self-knowledge, cultural awareness, and racial consciousness are integral to confidence, leadership, and success in traditional work environments. Whether you’re a free-spirited freelance creative like me, or a determined 9-5er, the ability to speak up, gain the respect of others, create lasting impact in your industry, become a leader, and make money moves, all stem from a shared human experience and common practice. Sometimes, we don’t even realize how many harmful ideas we’ve internalized or become conditioned to, and replicating a harmful narrative holds us all back. It is worth discussing the challenges, triumphs, and experiences of being an Asian American, no matter where you are; because we need socially conscious/responsible, caring, kind, giving, and influential people in all sectors of society. 👊 Mini promo plug, if you or someone you know would benefit from my speaking, contact my booking agent @papalodownagency, request a kit, or visit my website. #APAHM
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. #keynotespeaker#keynotespeakers#asianamericanwomen#asianamerican#diversitymatters#representationmatters#speakers#bossbabe#usow2018#usow#verizon#womeninfilm#womeninmedia#livepodcast#podcasts#storyteller#femalefilmmakerfriday#pantsuit#powersuit#bananafam#bananamagazine

“I think it’s important right now at this moment in history that we celebrate our background in immigration, and history and heritage — I think that’s the most American story we can tell.” —Giles Li, Executive Director of the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC.net). I loved this 3 minute clip from my mentor + high school program coordinator so much, that I ripped it from the interwebz + chopped it up real quick in premiere. Part of the challenge the Asian American community faces is visibility — and not just in Hollywood, I mean truly being seen and understood on a human level, all 20+ different countries with different languages, cultures, + political histories / relationship dynamics / war with the American government. How our community has needs just like every other community but maybe the metrics for our need aren’t even being questioned on paper or data surveys. There are so many layers to our experiences when we show up in the world that include our individual challenges around racial identity + sexuality + politics, stacked with immigrant parents / lineage that may/may not include the legacy of information as some other generations might’ve received. It’s complicated, and that’s okay, and I’m grateful for voices like Giles’ shaping the conversation on the ground, in boardrooms, and in media. Also, if you wana celebrate #APAHM , but not sure how, donate to one of the many amazing organizations serving the Asian/Asian American community, like www.BCNC.net ⚡️CC: @liziest

The message these ladies are pushing with @bananamag is so simple, yet SO NECESSARY: be proud of your Asian heritage. To be honest, I was surprised to discover how many people never really had the space to unpack and deconstruct their personal experiences around racism, identity, and culture. Growing up in the grassroots activist space, I overlooked the necessity of this work in today. My personal mission has been trying to engage and activate people to care more about political issues, and I’m realizing that for such a massive conglomerate of a community as the AAPI, there’s still much internal work that needs to happen on a wide level, in order to push the external work. There’s no political consciousness without the personal consciousness. Banana Mag provides a safe and creative platform to explore these topics from a very personal storytelling approach. And the evidence is clear: people gravitate towards Banana because they relate to it and they need it. Super proud of Vicki + Kathleen for being part of a long movement for community empowerment, and doing it in the best way they know how — true, authentic, and effortlessly cool. Here’s to more growing, and more building, and more celebrating together ✨🍌